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With a low-effort pout, Benedict rolls off him and onto his back, his arms splaying in either direction.
"Was that all right?" he asks hoarsely.
"Was that all right?" he asks hoarsely.
Bene nods sleepily, and before he can say more, he yawns. Making the executive decision to scoot closer, he rests his head against Colin's shoulder.
With a chuckle, Colin adjusts so Bene can rest comfortably, pulling one of the blankets up to cover them both. It's pretty early to go to sleep, but the intimacy of the moment feels nice. Probably especially so for Bene, after he went so long with hardly any touch at all. So he draws him close for a cuddle and just enjoys the moment.
"You're welcome," Bastien says, with matched I mean it weight, and lingers for a moment longer before standing up. Not quite leaving, but willing to. "If you have time later, maybe you could come help me with the dining hall. The extra one. I am trying to brighten it up—some art would not hurt, I think. But I don't actually know anything about... anything. So you could tell me what you think."
With a gradually-growing smile, Benedict nods. "That's-- yes. I'd like that." He's never done anything artistic on a large scale, but it may as well be time to try.
“Wonderful.”
He’s say to call him, but that would be rude, given the impossibility.
“You are working for the Ambassador now, ouais? I am up there all the time to trade papers back and forth—if I see you on a day when you have time, you can let me know. Or just come find me.”
He’s say to call him, but that would be rude, given the impossibility.
“You are working for the Ambassador now, ouais? I am up there all the time to trade papers back and forth—if I see you on a day when you have time, you can let me know. Or just come find me.”
"Yes," Bene confirms, his face lighting up as Bastien continues.
"Yes. Good. I will."
"Yes. Good. I will."
[The day after this thread.]
There's a knock on Benedict's door after work is done for the day. Colin's there with an earthenware pitcher beaded with condensation. He gives a faint smile.
"Want to sit in the garden a bit?"
There's a knock on Benedict's door after work is done for the day. Colin's there with an earthenware pitcher beaded with condensation. He gives a faint smile.
"Want to sit in the garden a bit?"
The door is already partially ajar, but Benedict is on his bed inside, relaxing and reading something in the small amount of time he has after work and before dinner.
He angles his head to see Colin, nods in the midst of a yawning stretch, and unfolds himself from the mattress to follow after him.
"Nice day?" he murmurs, a bit sleepily-- he obviously hasn't even been outside yet.
He angles his head to see Colin, nods in the midst of a yawning stretch, and unfolds himself from the mattress to follow after him.
"Nice day?" he murmurs, a bit sleepily-- he obviously hasn't even been outside yet.
Colin's enthusiasm is almost alarming, but it's cute, in a way that Bene can still appreciate despite how tired he is.
"Mint," he repeats with a little smile, "and-- long. Y'know. Painting. ...Byerly."
"Mint," he repeats with a little smile, "and-- long. Y'know. Painting. ...Byerly."
A sudden chuckle, which comes out as a clean 'HEHEH'-- "no. Just the two things that consume my waking hours."
"Probably in like."
Bene falls silent for a while, staring forward in contemplation.
"A year."
Bene falls silent for a while, staring forward in contemplation.
"A year."
"Maybe. It's fine if they don't." He shrugs one shoulder, tossing his hair in a familiar, dismissive motion.
"I'll keep going until it's done."
"I'll keep going until it's done."
"I'm glad someone does."
Words spoken in a bit of a sulk, but good-naturedly enough, and he smiles as he steps out into the dwindling sunlight.
"I keep forgetting it's summer," he remarks, "it's so cold in that stone tower."
Words spoken in a bit of a sulk, but good-naturedly enough, and he smiles as he steps out into the dwindling sunlight.
"I keep forgetting it's summer," he remarks, "it's so cold in that stone tower."
"We need to get you out more." Colin finds a spot to sit down and set out two cups. "Even if it's just having tea in the garden."
He pours both cups full. "I'm not keen on the oppression, but at least being a mage keeps my drinks the right temperature."
He pours both cups full. "I'm not keen on the oppression, but at least being a mage keeps my drinks the right temperature."
"Mm."
At this, Bene's spirits seem to dampen slightly, though he tries not to show it as he picks up his cup, sniffs its contents, and takes a drink.
Being a mage. Yes, something he also is, yet with which he can't currently identify.
At this, Bene's spirits seem to dampen slightly, though he tries not to show it as he picks up his cup, sniffs its contents, and takes a drink.
Being a mage. Yes, something he also is, yet with which he can't currently identify.
Colin looks sheepish on seeing Bene's reaction. He should have been more sensitive. They were just having a lovely time. He's got to change the subject very quickly.
"So, um. About what we did. Again. Is that...something we're doing now?"
A slightly coy look.
"So, um. About what we did. Again. Is that...something we're doing now?"
A slightly coy look.
It actually takes Bene a minute to realize what he's talking about, but then he gets it, only after choking slightly on his tea.
"Oh. Um. It," he stammers, clearing his throat, "...like now?" Colin they're in public
"Oh. Um. It," he stammers, clearing his throat, "...like now?" Colin they're in public
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